African violet named Little Saphire

ABSTRACT

An African violet plant named Little Saphire having a miniature growth habit; single, violet-blue flowers; strong stems which curve toward the center of the plant; early, profuse and continuous flowering, and long-lasting, non-dropping flowers which form a flower head above the leaves.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Little Saphire.

The new cultivar was originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program in Isselburg, West Germany. The female, or seed parentwas a cultivar designated Saintpaulia schumensis. The male, or pollenparent was a cultivar designated Z25/S Mini. The new cultivar was giventhe breeding number H501/Super Mini.

Little Saphire was discovered and selected by me in 1982 as a floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Isselburg, West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar byleaf cuttings, as performed by me at Isselburg, West Germany, hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Little Saphire has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Isselburg, West Germany and Nashville, Tenn. undergreenhouse conditions which closely approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Little Saphire, which in combinationdistinguish this African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Little Saphire will not grow larger than 6-7 cm. tall.

2. Strong wirelike and upright flower stems curving toward the center.

3. First flash of flowers form a tight bouquet above the leaves.

4. Early, profuse and continuous flowering.

5. Each plant carries up to 6 and more upright flower stems, each ofwhich carries 5 and more flowers.

6. Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after planting of unrooted shoot.

7. Medium green velvet leaves, slightly hairy.

8. Long-lasting, non-dropping single flowers; occasionally out of thecenter appears an additional petal.

9. Seed capsule pushes slightly through.

10. Spear-shaped leaves are 1.5 to 2.0 cm. in size.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows a typical specimen plant ofthe new cultivar grown in a 4 cm. pot. The colors appearing in thephotograph are as true as possible with color illustrations of thistype. The ruler to the right of the plant is in centimeters,highlighting the miniature size and growth habit of Little Saphire.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), except where general colors ofordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural light conditions at approximately 1:00 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., cv. LittleSaphire.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Z25/S Mini.

Female parent.--Saintpaulia schumensis.

PROPAGATION

The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristics throughsuccessive propagations by leaf cuttings.

PLANT

From 5.5 cm. to 7 cm. tall when grown in pots, and approximately 7-9 cm.in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves:

Shape.--Oval to heart-shaped; pointed.

Diameter.--15 mm. wide and 23 mm. long.

Texture.--Leatherlike.

Ribs and veins.--Well pronounced on under side.

Color (upper side).--147A.

Color (under side).--147C-D.

Petioles.--Strong, hairy, brownish-purple.

Flowers:

Buds.--Size: 8-10 mm. before opening. Shape: Ball-shaped.

Sepals.--Shape: Spear-shaped; five in number. Color: Dark brown.

Calyx.--Basifixed.

Peduncle.--Character: Strong, upright, hairy. Color: Brownish.

Individual flowers:

Size.--35-40 mm. in diameter.

Shape.--Single, violet shaped.

Color (upper side).--90C-D.

Color (under side).--91B.

Borne.--Each flower stem carries 6 and more flowers on strong uprightpeduncles.

Flowering habit: Flowers 8-9 weeks after potting; flower head formedwell above leaves; flowers are long lasting and non-dropping; flowerscontinuously.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Two.

Anthers.--Two, with four anther cells.

Filaments.--2 mm.

Styles.--6 mm., dark purple.

Roots: Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance: Good.

General Observations

Little Saphire is a super miniature violet, which does not grow tallerthan 6-7 mm. It is a breakthrough in developing a miniature violet withthe well known Optimara® characteristics of long-lasting, non-droppingflowers on upright flower stems that form a nice bouquet free standingabove the leaves. It flowers early and under good growing conditions itwill bloom continuously. The flower is more long-lasting than violetsknown to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named LittleSaphire, as illustrated and described, and particularly characterized byits miniature growth habit; single, violet-blue flowers; strong stemswhich curve toward center of plant; early, profuse and continuousflowering, and by its long-lasting and non-dropping flowers which form aflower head above the leaves.